Dictionary

lusty en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈlʌsti/

Etymology

From Middle English lusty (“mirthful, pleasant, delicious, delightful”), equivalent to lust + -y. Compare Saterland Frisian lustich (“amusing”), West Frisian lustich (“amusing, funny”), Dutch lustig (“cheerful”), German lustig (“amusing”), Danish lystig (“merry”), Swedish lustig (“funny”).

Meanings

1. Exhibiting lust (in the obsolete sense meaning "vigor"); strong, healthy, robust; vigorous; full of sap or vitality.
   • I ſaw him [Ferdinand] beare the ſurges vnder him, / And ride vpon their backes ; he trod the water / Whoſe enmity he flung aſide : and breſted / The ſurge moſt ſwolne that met him : his bold head / 'Bove the contentious waues he kept, and oared / Himſelfe with his good armes in luſty ſtroke / To th'ſhore ; that ore his waue-worne baſis bowed / As ſtooping to releeue him[…] 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 7:
   • How luſh and luſty the graſſe lookes ? How greene ? 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 6:
2. Hearty, merry, gleesome, enthusiastic, lively, stirring.
3. (informal, obsolete) Given to experiencing lust; enjoying physical sensations; lustful.
   • Before the flood thou with thy lusty crew 1671, John Milton, “The First Book”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 2:
   • Looking for some hot, hard and hunky fun or a lusty lost weekend at the beach? 1990 April 7, “Keep It Coming!”, in Gay Community News, page 17:
4. (obsolete) Beautiful; handsome; pleasant.
   • So louedſt thou the luſty Hyacinct, So louedſt thou the faire Coronis deare: […] 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto XI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, page 570:
5. (obsolete) Of large size; big.
   • And a speake any thing against me, Ile take him downe, & a were lustier then he is, and twentie such Iacks: […] c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv]:
   • I thought to have embarked in the evening, but, for fear of pirates plying near the coast, I durst not trust our small vessel, and stayed till Monday following, when two or three lusty vessels were to depart. 1652 February 10 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “[Diary entry for 1 February 1652]”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […]; and sold by John and Arthur Arch, […], published 1819, →OCLC:
6. (obsolete, rare) Of large size; big. ▸ With child.

Forms

Deriveds

lustihead · lustious · lustiness · lustily · unlusty · overlusty · lustihood · luscious

Relateds

lustuous · lustful